Page 34 of Viktor

“What? How are we getting to New—”

Waverly squealed as his energy slammed into her. Lost in space and time, her mind flashed with visions as she was sucked into another century. The vampire wore leather and fur, he stood watching a roaring fire. An attractive woman crossed the room and dropped her clothes, baring herself, offering her neck. As he kissed her shoulder, a possessive streak stabbed through Waverly.

Before she had a chance to process her feelings or what she’d seen, the vision shifted. She struggled to breathe as Viktor came into view. On his knees, he cowered as a taskmaster beat him with a whip. A male she didn’t recognize, tied to a stake, lapped at his wounds. Her heart broke for him, yet her energy simply swirled in the ethos, she was helpless to stop it. As the flagrum snapped, her heart caught in her chest. The scent of blood swirled in the air, making her nauseous. She froze as Viktor raised his head, his eyes looking to her.

As her feet thumped onto the ground, she immediately snapped into reality. Waverly released a mournful cry, the memories fresh in her mind. Her sadness quickly dissipated as Viktor came into view.

“Are you okay? Sorry, but I had to get us out of there. No time to fuss with demons. Or possessed humans.”

“Viktor,” she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears. He’d seen her in her vision. No one in her life had insight to her gift, her curse. Both fascinated and terrified, she reached for him, her palm brushing his cheek, her fingers tingling.

“Are you all right, pet? I’m sorry I had to do that without proper warning.” He released her hand.

She glanced at his lips as her body hummed with his energy. “Viktor. You saw me.”

5

Like a dream, Viktor sensed her in his mind. He hadn’t intentionally shown her specific memories, but rather let it play as a reel. Although Viktor no longer suffered the agony of the floggings, the memory lingered. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“That man, he was beating you.” She shook her head. “I saw you. You saw me.”

Waverly pulled out of his embrace, shaken, as she took in her surroundings. Lights twinkled in the distance through a wall of glass. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, drawn to a lone flickering candle on the fireplace mantle. “Where am I?”

“Home.”

“This is your house? It’s dark outside. Why is it dark outside?” Panic flashed in her eyes.

“Because it’s night,” Viktor responded without pause.

“No. It was daytime when we were in the museum. Wait,” she defensively held up her hands, confused, “what just happened?”

“We’re in Louisiana. It’s night here. Time difference and whatnot.”

“Louisiana?” Her voice grew louder at the realization that he’d defied physics, somehow transporting them across the country. “No. No, we were just in California.”

“I’m vampire, Waverly.”

“Is this some kind of trick?”

“It’s no trick. It’s simply a skill. One I’ve mastered. For your first ride, you appear to have traveled well.” He gave her a warm smile. “Technically it’s your second. But this time you were awake.”

“You mean you can just disappear and reappear? Take someone with you?”

“Precisely.”

“This! This is how I got to Miami?” she exclaimed.

“Yes.”

“Oh my God. My vision…I saw you. I saw you there,” she repeated, her voice weary.

“I think you should rest. Humans, wolves. They react differently when I flash them.” He gestured to the sofa and flicked a switch on the wall, igniting the fireplace.

Waverly walked to a large, crushed velvet sofa and sat, staring blindly at the fire.

“How long have you had visions?” Viktor asked as he took a seat in an overstuffed chair.

“I don’t know. Since I was younger,” she confessed. “They started when I was ten. I really can’t remember.”